Participatory culture and audiences

Question 1

What is Jenkin’s theory of fandom?

Answer 1

Idea of ‘prosumer’- audiences that create as well as consume media. This culture has revolutionised fan communities w/opportunity to create + share content. Links to Clay Shirky’s work on ‘mass amateurisation’

Question 2

How does Jenkins defend fan culture?

Answer 2

Defends fan culture, argues fans are often stereotyped negatively in media as they value pop culture (eg films or games) over traditional cultural capital (high brow culture or knowledge). Ironic- most fans are middle class, sot they are often seen as threat to traditional hierarchy

Question 3

What is the difference between participatory culture and

consumer culture?

Answer 3

Consumer culture- audience receives text but does not interact with them. Participatory culture- audience receives and interacts with the product, with a less hierarchical producer->consumer relationship

Question 4

What is ‘textual poaching’?

Answer 4

When fans take texts, re-edit or develop their meanings, process called semiotic productivity. Fan communities are also quick to criticise if they feel a text or character is developing in a way they don’t support.

Question 5

What is the ‘bardic function’?

Answer 5

Analysis of media + its role as ‘Bard’ w/in society today

Question 6

What does Shirky suggest about the new media landscape?

Answer 6

Suggests that mass amateurisation has occurred- professionally made media that was consumed by audiences in a fairly simple model no longer predominates

Question 7

What does Clay Shirky believe about the new relationship between audiences and producers?

Answer 7

From rise of collab projects to publicity campaigns run by volunteers, he believes “organisations now have to understand, and respect, the motivations of the billion new participants in the contemporary media ecosystem.”-

Question 8

What does Clay Shirky believe about social networks and consumers?

Answer 8

Mass Amateurisation:“Every consumer is also a producer, and everyone can talk back.” Yet what may be more significant is how many people can reach each other through the connections in a network. Result: more connections.

Question 9

What was the old model of production and consumption?

Answer 9

We produce, you consume. Now, everyone can produce, consume, and share.

Question 10

Define ‘cognitive surplus’

Answer 10

The way in which ppl globally use their free time to develop collaborative online projects